Ulster Bank, 27 Main Street, Castlederg, Co Tyrone, BT81 7AU

Ulster Bank at 27 Main Street, Castlederg, is a detached symmetrical three-bay two-storey bank building constructed around 1865 and designed by Thomas Jackson, one of Northern Ireland's most significant architects. The building stands on the west side of Main Street and is of considerable architectural importance to the town, distinguished by the high quality of its detailing, massing and proportion compared to adjacent buildings.

The building is square-on-plan facing east with a two-storey return at the rear and a single-storey flat-roof extension at the re-entrant angle. The roof is concealed above an ashlar parapet with an eaves cornice supported on corbels and surmounted by an ashlar blocking course; the rainwater goods are replacement uPVC. The walls are constructed of roughly dressed squared-and-snecked rubble with ashlar banding and stepped quoins rising over a projecting moulded plinth.

The principal elevation facing east displays high-quality architectural detailing. Windows are 1/1 timber sliding sashes contained within ashlar surrounds with pedimented heads and keyblock detail, set on splayed projecting cills. The central entrance comprises double-leaf replacement timber panelled doors flanked by crocketed pilasters surmounted by a stone transom and a rebated round-arched-headed opening containing a plain timber fanlight. A metal signage panel reads "ULSTER BANK LIMITED" to the right of the entrance. At ground floor, the entrance is flanked by two windows on each side; five windows occupy the first floor. The south gable is abutted off-centre at the left by square-plan stone piers with stone copings supporting replacement metal gates. To the right of the pier is a round-arched-headed chamfered opening with moulded springer stones containing a replacement 1/1 fixed window; to the left is a square-headed 1/1 window. Two windows appear at first floor: the left is square-headed and the right round-arched-headed. The north elevation contains two windows at ground floor (that at right diminished) and a single window at the right at first floor. Replacement timber casement windows with projecting masonry cills and smooth rendered banding are located on the north, south and west elevations.

The west elevation is abutted at the right by a two-storey extension (slightly lower) containing a stairwell, with a single-storey flat-roof extension at the re-entrant angle. The exposed section contains a single window at ground floor and three windows at first floor (diminished). The two-storey return at the rear has a flat roof with roughcast rendered walls. Its south elevation contains a single fire door at the right at ground floor; the west elevation contains a single window at first floor; the north elevation is abutted by the single-storey extension. A single-storey extension containing a vault has a flat roof with ruled-and-lined rendered walls; its west and north elevations are blank. The rear of the bank is enclosed at the south-east by replacement metal gates. The property is bounded at north and south by random rubble walling and adjacent buildings; the rear yard is enclosed at the west by single-storey and two-storey outbuildings with pitched natural slate roofs. The walls of these outbuildings are roughly coursed rubble and contain a series of round-arched-headed openings with brick surrounds containing replacement 1/1 timber casements and timber-sheeted doors. The property fronts onto Main Street and is bounded to the road by replacement cast-iron railings on a plinth wall.

The interior has been extensively modernised and retains little original detailing or plan form. The building was opened as the Ulster Bank branch on 26 December 1865, probably initially in temporary premises. By 1867, it occupied its present site on Main Street. The building was valued at £40, with a marginal note stating its construction cost was about £1800. The office was renovated around 1965. The exterior has remained largely unchanged with the exception of the rear return and vault to the re-entrant angle, both constructed during the late twentieth century, which are of no significant architectural interest. The bank continues in use as a financial institution.